The 2015 Starstruck Classic field has been released and Ideal Image will have the chance to record a second straight win at black-type level, but has not been helped by a wide barrier draw.
Chris Parnham has been booked to ride Vital Importance in the 2015 Starstruck Classic at Ascot on Saturday. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Ideal Image made her debut for new trainer Adam Durrant with a victory in the Bernie Couch Memorial Handicap (1200m) at Belmont Park on August 8 and she was immediately sent to the spelling paddock to begin preparations for the 2015 Perth Summer Racing Carnival.
The More Than Ready mare started her campaign with a close second behind odds-on favourite Sheidel in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) at Ascot on November 21 before she scored her second black-type win in the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m) at the same venue on December 5.
The only other horse that is set to take winning form into the Starstruck Classic is Goldbo and she is set to start from extreme outside of the field for the $100,000 race.
Goldbo has had four different trainers during her racing career to date, but she made her debut for new trainer Jim Enright with a narrow victory in the Thinkwater Bunbury Handicap (1420m) at Bunbury on December 6.
Ideal Image is joined in the 2015 Starstruck Classic field by stablemate Fashion Princess, who has performed well without winning in her three race starts this preparation.
Fashion Princess returned to the races with a credible third behind the talented Lucky Street in the Perth Racing Membership Handicap (1200m) at Ascot on November 7 and she was far from disgraced when fifth in the Listed Carbine Club Of W.A. Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 21.
The Iffraaj mare received a degree of betting support in the lead-up to the Jungle Dawn Classic, but she never really looked like beating Ideal Image and she could finish no better than fourth.
One of the most interesting runners in the Starstruck Classic field is Fred Kersley-trained Blackwood, who is set to take on the older horses.
Blackwood started her campaign with a win in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) on October 31 and she was placed in the Group 3 Western Australian Fillies Championship Stakes (1600m) on November 14 before she finished a credible fifth in both the Group 2 Western Australian Guineas (1600m) on November 21 and the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 5.
The 2015 Starstruck Classic field is rounded out by Vampi Lass, Vital Importance, Keysbrook, I’m Feeling Lucky, Mezulla, Tarquinn Shadow, Doubt You Catch Me and Barambas Bid.
